Sex assault trial begins for southern Alberta man with 14-year history of victimizing teen girls

Atrial has begun for a southern Alberta man who has a 14-year history of sexually assaulting underage girls.

Trevor Pritchard, 34, is being tried by judge alonein Lethbridge on charges of sexual assault, luring and possession of child pornography. The two girls, who were both 14 years old at the time of the alleged offences, will both testify during the three-week trial.

Pritchard has four prior convictions for sexually assaulting underage girls in 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2018, though he has applied to back out of his guilty plea from earlier this year.

Five years ago, police warned the public the registered sex offender was likely to reoffend, targetinggirls under the age of 16.

• Coaldale man granted hearing as he seeks to withdraw sexual assault, child luring guilty pleas

Pritchard used two Facebook accounts to "engage in sexual communication" with several young teen girls, prosecutor Sarah Goard-Baker alleged during her opening statement on Tuesday morning.

Pritchard is accused of having unprotected sex with a 14-year-old girl,Goard-Bakertold Court of Queen's Bench Justice Johanna Kubik.

In January 2017,Pritchard was living east of Lethbridge in Coaldale when he was arrested on six other charges including sexual assault,abductionand uttering threats.

After those allegations came to light and Pritchard was first charged, two girls under the age of 16 contacted police resulting in the trial which is now underway.

Threatened to kill victim

In November 2013, Lethbridge Police issuedapublic warning when Pritchardwas released from prison after servinghis 44-month sentence for sexually assaulting two 13-year-old girls.

Police said at the time he was at high risk to reoffend against girls under 16, and that he posed a significant risk of harm to the community.

In April,Pritchardpleaded guilty to sexually assaulting and luring a 15-year-old girl he had met on Facebook. He has since applied to back out of his pleasafter learning prosecutor DonnaSpaneris seeking a dangerous offender designation which could landPritchardin prison indefinitely.

• More charges laid against registered sex offender in Coaldale

As part of his guilty plea, Pritchard admitted to meeting the teenage girl in January 2017, after telling her he would drive her to a job interview.

Pritchard instead took the girl to his home in Coaldale and told herthe interview would not be happening.

He then forced her to participate in various sexual acts, according to an agreed statement of facts signed by Pritchard.

When he drove her home later he threatened to kill the girl if she told anyone what happened, but the victim told her mother who then contacted police.

Pritchard now wants to back out of his guilty plea and in February 2019, defence lawyer Bill Wister will argue his client's convictions should be vacated.

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